Agent for sizing textile fibers



Fatented pr. 23, 19,35

m'riuwr OFFICE AGENT FOR. TEXTILE FIBERS Kurt Jochum and Arthur Voss,Frankfort-onthe-Main,

Hermann Geier, Mainz-Kastel, and Ewald Dickhiuser, Gersthofen,

near Augsburg Germany, assignors to I. G. FarbenindustrieAktiengesellschatt, Frankfort on the -Main,

Germany No Drawing. Application April 19, 1932, Serial No. 606,284. InGermany May 16, 1931 4 4 Claims. (CI. 91-68) The present inventionrelates to agents for sizing textile fibers.

We have found t at a particularly favorable sizing effect is obta' ed byusing a mixture of g ,at least two water-soluble .polyvinyl compounds Qvinyl alcohol; for examplqa containing hydroxyl-g roups, the viscosityof one 01' said polyvinyl compounds materially differing from that ofthe other, the diflerence of the viscosities of two polyvlnyl compoundshaving ,to be at least K=l0 (see Kolloid-Zeitschrift, 49, 1929, page135) For instance, a mixture of a polyvinyl alcohol of ahigh viscosity,K-value= 70-80, and a polyvinyl alcohol of a low viscosity,K-value=20-50, may be used. A similar efiect is produced when otherpolyvinyl compounds, provided they are soluble in water, are used, ,suchas the water-soluble derivatives of polyproduct of the reaction of analkylene oxide on a polyvinyl alcohol. For instance, by the combinationof a polyvinyl alcohol of a high viscosity with a derivative of lowviscosity obtained by causing a polyvinyl alcohol to react with ethyleneoxide, it is possible to obtain a sizing agent which with regard to thesizing effect and the soft feel of the sized material is superior to anagent consisting of either component.

' The improved sizing effect is based on the following fact: A polyvinylcompound of alow viscosity penetrates very readily into the fiber andcauses the 'various capillaries to unite with one another, thusproducing a soft sized material. A polyvinyl compound of a igh viscositydoes not penetrate into the thread but in the "form of "a film surroundsthe surface of the thread, thus enclosing the various capillary threads;the sized material thus obtained is rather hard. If, however, mixturesof polyvinyl compounds of diflerent viscosities are used a sizing agentis obtained which penetrates into the thread, that is to say whichunites the various capillary threads with one another, and also in theform of a film surrounds the threads, thus rendering the sized materialresistant to friction. The sized material thus obtained-possesses aconsiderably softer feel than that of the material obtained when apolyvinyl compound of a high viscosity is alone used. 7

Furthermore there may be added to the mix-, tures of polyvinyl compoundscompounds of a high molecular weight containing hydroxylgroups, forinstance the polymeric products obtained by the condensation ofpolyhydric alcohols, particularly of filhyecerin; furthermore there mayalso be added water-soluble products obtained by chemical reaction or bydegradation from carbohydrates, such' as methyl cellulose, dextrin, orthe like. Sugar-like substances, such as glucose and cane sugar,likewise have a favorable action-on the sizing eilect of the polyvinylalcohol; likewise the degradation products. obtained by a catalyticreduction of carbohydrates, for instance dimethoxytrioxyhexane obtainedfrom methylcellulose. The condensation products from urea and glycerinand other condensation products containing hydroxyl and nitrogen, suchas triethanolamine, may likewise be used.

The following examples serve to illustrate .the' invention, but they arenot intended to limit it thereto,,the parts being by weight:

1. 60 parts of a polyvinyl viscosity, K-value='76 tiseeIdolloid-Zeitschrift", 49, 1 29, page 135), obtained by saponlrying apolyvinyl ester which is still only capable of swelling in organicsolvents, are intimately mixed by treatment in a ball-mill with 40 partsof a polyvinyl alcohol of an inferior viscosity, obtained from polyvinylacetate having a K-vaiue of 42. An aqueous solution of 1.5 per cent.strength of the mixture thus made is used for sizing artificial silk. Awell-sized material oi a soft feel is obtained.

2. 60 parts of a polyvinyl alcohol obtained from polyvinyl acetate andof a high viscosity (K-value=75) which is prepared by heating vinylacetate in the presence of sodium perborate and acetic anhydride, but inthe absence 0! a solvent or a diluent, are introduced at about 60 G.into 710 parts of water together with parts'ot polyvinyl alcohol of alow viscosity (K-value=25) obtainable by saponiflcation of polyvinyl choracetate. The solution is diluted with 5 times the quantity of waterand then used for sizing acetate silk. Well-sized threads of goodsoitness are obtained.

3. 75 parts of polyvinyl alcohol of a high viscosity, as prescribed inExample 1, are dissolved in 500 parts of hot water. 25 parts ofhetero-polymeric carboxylic acid of a relatively low viscosity(K-value=30), obtainable by a joint polymerization of equimolecularquantities of vinyl chloride and maleic anhydrlde. are intro-:- ducedinto 200 parts of' an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide 0153 percent. strength; thecarboxylic acid dissolves during this operation withsimultaneous saponiiication of the halogen whereby a polyvinyl alcoholis formed which is partly condensed with maleic' anhydride. Thesolutions are mixed together and the product is alcohol of a highpH-value of 7-8 and can be used with very good 7 success for sizingartificial silk.

5. parts of a polyvinyl alcohol of a high viscosity and having a K-valueof about 75 and 15 parts of a product obtained by causing ethylene oxideto act upon a polyvinyl alcohol of a low viscosity (K-value=30), aretogether made into a paste with 1000 parts of cold water. This paste isthendissolved by heating it to 60 C., while stirring. Artificial silksized with this solution has a soft feel and is well-sized. I

6. 50 parts of a polyvinyl alcohol of a high viscosity and having aK-value of 78, 50 parts of a product obtained by partially saponifyingpolyvinyl acetate of a low viscosity (K-value=30) and still containingone third of the acetyl groups,

which product is soluble in water and in ethanol, and 3 parts of boraxare stirred into 900 parts of cold water and dissolved by heating. Thereis obtained a mass which is gelatinous at roomtemperature. 50 parts ofthis jelly are diluted with 950 parts of water and then used for sizingacetate silk.

7. 60 parts of a polyvinyl alcohol of a high viscosity which is preparedas described in Example 2 are introduced at about 60 C. into 710 partsof water together with 30 parts of a product of a, low viscosity(K'-value=25) obtained by saponifying a mixed polymerization productfrom equimolecular quantities of vinyl acetate and vinyl chloracetate.The solution obtained is diluted with 5 times the quantity ofwaterand'then used for sizing acetate silk. There is obtained awell-sized material of a very soft feel.

8. A solution in 970 parts of water of 15 parts of a polyvinyl alcoholof low viscosity (K-value about 50), obtained by saponifying polyvinylacetate, and 15 parts of a water-soluble derivative of polyvinyl alcoholof a high viscosity (K-value=70),.obtained by partially saponifying thesaid polyvinyl alcohol with laurlc acid, can be used with verygoodsuccess as sizing liquor for sizing hanks of artificial silk orartificial silk in a sizing machine.

9. 50 parts of a polyvinyl alcohol of an average viscosity and having aK-value of 60 and i 25 parts of a syrupy polymerization product of a lowviscosity from methyl vinyl ether are together dissolved, whilestirring, in 625 parts of cold water. Artificial silk sized with thissolution is well-sized and distinguished by a very good softness.

In the following claims there is to be understood by the termwater-soluble polyvinyl compounds containing hydroxyl-groups "thepolyvinyl alcohols and the water-soluble derivatives of polyvinylalcohols and by the term K-value" the value of viscosity (seeKolloid-Zeitschrift". 49, 1929, page 135).

We claim:

1. An agent for sizing textile fibers comprising a mixture of at leasttwo water-soluble polyvinyl compounds containing hydroxyl-groups, theviscosity of one of said polyvinyl compounds differing from that of oneof the others by at least K=10 and in such proportions as to constitutean effective sizing agent for viscose silk or cellulose acetate silk.

2. An agent for sizing textile fibers comprising a mixture of at leasttwo polyvinyl alcohols, the viscosity of one of which differs from thatof one of the others by at least K=1O and in such proportions as toconstitute an eifective sizing agent for viscose silk or celluloseacetate silk. v

3. An agent for sizing textile fibers comprising a mixture of twopolyvinyl alcohols, the viscosity of one of which differs from that ofthe other by at least K=10 and in such proportions as to constitute aneffective sizing agent for viscose silk or cellulose acetate silk.

4. An agent for sizing textile fibers comprising a mixture of apolyvinyl alcohol of a highviscosity, K-value=70-80 and a polyvinylalcohol of a low viscosity, K-value=-50 in such proportions as toconstitute an eifective sizing agent for viscose silk or celluloseacetate silk.

KURT JOCHUM. ARTHUR voss. HERMANN GEIER. EWALD DICKHKUSER.

